Little Pink Starfish

By all accounts, given that the room’s original owner had been exiled from the Demonic Domain and was deeply cherished by the family head, it should have been declared a restricted area.

In the original novel, this room was indeed marked off-limits, and the demonic girl Xin’e had hidden here with the perverted protagonist for quite some time before being persuaded by him to reach out to her grandfather. Gu Bai, knowing he had a wealth of supplies stored in his spatial artefact, had assumed they could also hide here for a long while. What he hadn’t anticipated was being discovered so quickly.

It was a bright, sunny day, the sky clear and blue. Birds chirped melodiously on the branches, flowers blossomed with fragrant exuberance, and a gentle breeze rustled the dancing leaves. It was a glorious day… Such a beautiful day… A truly beautiful day… Beautiful day… Day… Wait! None of that matters! The main point was this:

At that moment, Gu Bai was sprawled in Qiguan Rui’s arms, reluctantly catching up on sleep after a night of relentless “battles.” Completely stark naked! The room still held traces of an… Interesting scent. Clothes and shoes were scattered across the floor. Their pale, entwined bodies gleamed in the daylight. The damn pervert hadn’t even cleaned up the evidence! This was a classic caught-in-the-act situation!

In his two lifetimes, Gu Bai had never been so utterly humiliated. Even though Qiguan Rui had swiftly erected a screen to shield them and wrapped him securely in layers, it did nothing to suppress his fiery indignation.

Bloody hell! Disgraced in front of non-humans, how am I supposed to endure this humiliation?! Gu Bai scowled darkly, quickly pulling on his clothes.

Beyond the screen, Xin’e’s crisp, anxious voice could be heard, trying to stop someone. Meanwhile, Qiguan Rui, dressed faster than lightning, stepped out to confront the intruder.

As a typically cold and dignified city lord, Gu Bai couldn’t help but wonder if his image had been irreparably tarnished. Should he go out? Should he not? Could he afford not to? This was a serious dilemma.

Outside the room, another person was in a thoroughly foul mood—Xin Xinba, the Mighty Ape King. A prominent figure on Demonic Domain Island, Xin Xinba had broken through to the level of Advanced Wu Sheng over a century ago. He had doted on his daughter and then his granddaughter, cherishing them as his greatest treasures. Though circumstances had forced him to exile Xin’e, he had secretly assigned elite guards to protect her. Yet somehow, his precious granddaughter had managed to shake them off and disappear without a trace, leaving him both proud and deeply anxious.

Xin Xinba had dismissed those incompetent guards in frustration, but his longing for Xin’e only grew. Day after day, he lingered near her room, reminiscing—or rather, pining for his granddaughter while awaiting news from his spies. _{[T/N: Just de-exile her? The fuck?]}

That morning, as usual, Xin Xinba had gone to the small courtyard outside her room to vent his emotions, only to discover someone had entered the house! Furious, Xin Xinba stormed in, seething with rage. Who dares violate my precious granddaughter’s sanctum?! Do they think my private army is just for show?! But to his surprise, the first person he saw was Xin’e herself.

While he should have been overjoyed at her return, his joy quickly turned to anger. His delicate, beloved granddaughter was half-squatting against the wall outside the room, looking dishevelled and pitiful. Clearly, she’d been mistreated! Who dares bully my granddaughter?! Who?! Without hesitation, he brushed aside Xin’e’s attempts to stop him and barged into the room.

Sure enough, on the bed were two figures in a decidedly unwholesome situation, sparking Xin Xinba’s fury anew. My granddaughter is a delicate flower! Which heartless bastard dared to deceive her and then brazenly fool around with some vixen in front of her?! As Xin’e tried to block his view, Xin Xinba hesitated to harm her. Instead, he tried to push past the screen to identify the scoundrel and the vixen.

From behind the screen, a figure finally stepped out. It was a tall, handsome young man with an extraordinary air of refinement. His elegant demeanour and charming appearance were enough to make anyone take notice. Xin Xinba’s heart soured further. This face screams “heartbreaker!” Could it be that my granddaughter fell for a pretty boy from the martial world?!

Releasing his powerful aura, Xin Xinba tested the intruder’s Wu Qi. Discovering that it was indeed advanced Wu Jun level and, more importantly, reversed in nature, he felt slightly reassured. Not bad for someone his age, but he’s still unworthy of my granddaughter! And he dared to play the heartbreaker?! He needs a lesson! As for that vixen still hiding behind the screen… I’ll see just how enchanting she is to have outshone my precious granddaughter!

Xin Xinba glared at Qiguan Rui, who bowed politely, his expression tinged with respect. “Junior arrived late last night and did not wish to disturb Senior’s rest. I had planned to visit you today, but instead, you graced us with your presence first. Please forgive this breach of courtesy.”

Xin Xinba’s mouth twitched. What a smooth talker—so sour!

Qiguan Rui, understanding the misunderstanding, quickly adjusted his stance. A flicker of something passed through Xin’e’s eyes, unnoticed by anyone, before she stepped forward with a smile. “Grandfather, this is my sworn brother, Gu Shan. Inside is his companion. Due to certain circumstances, I couldn’t stay with them, nor did I wish to disturb you, so I spent the night outside.”

Xin Xinba frowned. “You’re a girl!” Sworn brother, my foot! There’s no way men and women can be close without something shady going on!

Xin’e’s smile didn’t falter. “Brother Gu is a guest. I couldn’t let him stay outside while I took the room. I’ve gained much experience wandering over the years; a single night outdoors is nothing to me.”

Xin Xinba’s heart softened, though he remained gruff. “Why didn’t you come to me?”

Xin’e replied sweetly, “I didn’t want to disturb your rest, Grandfather.”

His mood brightening, Xin Xinba glanced at Qiguan Rui, finding him somewhat more tolerable. Just as he was about to speak, Qiguan Rui moved quickly to the screen, prompting Xin Xinba’s suspicions. The vixen is about to appear… No, wait, if they’re not a couple, then she’s not a vixen. What should I call her…?

Before Xin Xinba could untangle his thoughts, a figure emerged from behind the screen. Draped in a silver robe over white garments, with flowing black hair and an ethereal beauty, the newcomer’s presence seemed almost otherworldly. The sight was blinding. In all his years, Xin Xinba had never seen a man this stunning.

Yes, the so-called vixen turned out to be a man—a man whose beauty rivalled that of the finest women, yet without their delicacy. Turning back to Qiguan Rui, Xin Xinba’s gaze lingered. Though also strikingly handsome, Qiguan Rui paled slightly in comparison to this new arrival, both in looks and in aura. Could it be…

Gu Bai, stepping forward to face reality, noticed Xin Xinba’s odd expression. Why is he looking at me like that? Realising there was no mockery in the old man’s gaze, Gu Bai’s mood improved slightly. Hah, at least he’s straightforward!

Meanwhile, Qiguan Rui subtly leaned closer to Gu Bai, his expression soft and affectionate, causing Xin Xinba to shudder. Men… with men… this is too much for me to handle! _{[AH! A HOMOPHOBE! KILL IT!]}

Suppressing his inner turmoil, Xin Xinba’s imposing demeanour returned. “How did you come to know Xin’e?” he asked, his tone heavy.

Before Gu Bai could respond, Qiguan Rui answered smoothly, weaving a touching tale of love, loyalty, and serendipitous encounters that left Xin Xinba visibly moved.

As for Gu Bai, his skin crawled from head to toe.

****

Pinky says: “Ah ha ha ha haaaa…. You have noo pOwer heere… Gandalf the [gay hater]…”